A 29-year-old man from Godalming has been sentenced to seven years and two months in prison following an eight-year period of domestic abuse. Ernie Jones, born on 27 December 1996, was convicted at Guildford Crown Court on 10 April 2026 for multiple violent offences against his victim.
Police were called to the victim’s home on 20 May 2025, where she courageously disclosed that she had suffered physical and psychological abuse at the hands of Jones for eight years. From January 2017 to June 2025, Jones subjected her to persistent controlling and coercive behaviour alongside severe physical assaults.
The abuse included repeated punches and kicks to the face, stomping on the victim’s head, threats with a knife, and property damage such as smashing her phone. Jones also denied her access to her children, threatened to have them taken into care, and filed false child neglect reports with social services.
One particularly violent incident occurred on 23 February 2025. While driving with his young children in the back seat and the victim in the passenger seat, Jones assaulted her after a disagreement at traffic lights, causing actual bodily harm.
Jones was arrested on 21 May 2025 and released on conditional bail. Despite this, he repeatedly breached bail conditions by stalking and harassing the victim through frequent messages, unannounced visits to her family home, threats, and contacting her relatives. This ongoing harassment caused the victim significant distress.
Jones now faces an indefinite restraining order to prevent any further contact with the victim.
Originally published by UKNIP.
